The Osmonds - American Profile The Osmonds American Icons, Celebrities, Featured Article, People The Osmonds singing group during their heyday in 1971 Launching into an emotional ballad about relationships that steady life’s storms, the Osmond brothers harmonize effortlessly, blending their voices into a rich melody and showing their audience why music—and life—are better with family around. As family photographs flash on a large screen behind a concert stage in Branson, Mo., Merrill, Jay and Jimmy sing a tribute to their siblings and late parents who have anchored the Osmonds’ musical dynasty across 55 years. “Family is where our strength lies,” says Jimmy Osmond, 49, the youngest of the nine Osmond siblings, seven of whom have performed in show biz. “We’re always better when we’re together.” Together, the Osmonds have recorded more than 200 albums and sold 100 million-plus copies, earning 63 gold and platinum records. One of America’s most enduring musical groups, the singers have performed continuously since 1957, though their lineup has changed through the years.

The last time all seven siblings were on stage together was in 2008, when the group held its 50th anniversary world tour and sold out arenas in the United Kingdom, Australia and Asia. The reunion proved that Osmond fans hadn’t forgotten the frenzy that the heartthrobs caused during their heyday in the early 1970s. “Donny couldn’t sell out arenas on his own [in 2008], Marie couldn’t, and the brothers couldn’t. But together, we could,” Jimmy says. “It just shows that people have a craving for family.” Growing up Osmond The Osmonds began singing as a quartet featuring Alan, Wayne, Merrill and Jay while growing up in Ogden, Utah, where the children learned vocal parts during car trips under the direction of their father, a former Army drill sergeant. “Our father had pretty good pitch, and so did our mother,” recalls Merrill, 59, who discovered his tenor voice at age 3. Recognizing the boys’ knack for harmony, George and Olive Osmond recruited a singing coach to develop the quartet, which began performing to earn money to purchase hearing aids for their older hearing-impaired brothers, Virl and Tom.

Eventually, the boys performed regularly at Disneyland and, in 1962, were invited to sing before a national television audience on “The Andy Williams Show.” Thanks to enthusiastic viewer feedback, their “one-time appearance” stretched into seven seasons on Williams’ show. “Andy couldn’t use us unless we came up with something different every week,” Merrill recalls, “so we developed an incredible work ethic—singing on ice skates one week, tap dancing the next, playing banjos another week. We learned that to be true entertainers, you have to adjust.” Younger brother Donny eventually joined them on stage to form a five-member group, and youngest siblings Marie and Jimmy also were introduced. Growing out of their toothy boyish grins into handsome young men, the brothers signed with record producer Mike Curb with the goal of becoming a rock ’n’ roll band. “They’re the most gifted group I ever worked with, and they set the bar for what a boy band should sound like,” says Curb, 68, who oversaw their new sound with “One Bad Apple,” the group’s first No. 1 hit, in 1971.

Curb was astounded by the brothers’ musical talents—from their ability to play 28 musical instruments to their intuitive vocals. “If I moved my hand up and down, they could follow along in five-part harmony,” Curb says. “Merrill Osmond became the best lead singer that rock ’n’ roll ever had, and Donny was a gifted crooner at age 13. They were brilliant.” Following up with hit songs such as “Yo-Yo” and “Down by the Lazy River,” the Osmonds hit the road for concerts that generated hysteria among teen girls in the United Kingdom. The family dynamic shifted, however, as Donny scored solo hits with “Go Away Little Girl” and “Puppy Love”; Marie took “Paper Roses” to No. 1 on the country charts; and Jimmy developed a loyal following in the United Kingdom and Japan. Looking back, the Osmonds credit strict and loving parents, strong family ties, their faith in God, and their relationship with the Mormon church for helping them ride the roller-coaster of fame. Though individual roles changed, the family stayed united in purpose.

“Different people got pushed out front over the years,” Jimmy says, “but we had a code that it didn’t matter who was out front—as long as it was an Osmond.” The older brothers produced the “Donny & Marie” television variety show from 1976 to 1979, shifted to country music during the 1980s, and performed their own show at Jimmy’s theater in Branson during the 1990s. “We’ve had to reinvent ourselves over and over through the years,” says Jay, 57, the group’s drummer, who began performing at age 3. “Life goes on and, like with any product, you have to repackage and remarket.” True to their roots Time has brought perspective to the whirlwind of running a family business in a highly visible and fickle industry. Because of their meticulous preparation and mature-beyond-their-years professionalism, the brothers earned the nickname “one-take Osmonds” on “The Andy Williams Show.” Perfection, however, was impossible to maintain over a lifetime. “Together, we’ve had great successes, and we’ve had times when we thought it was over,” says Jimmy, now the group’s business manager.

“We’ve made a lot of money, and we’ve lost a lot too. [Fifty-five] years of show business have taught my brothers and sister a lot. We’ve learned the value of being true to ourselves.” The family also appreciates its musical roots. “There would be no Donny, Marie and Jimmy in the entertainment business,” Jimmy says, “if not for Alan, Wayne, Merrill and Jay, and their sacrifice and hard work that paved the way.” Today, Donny and Marie perform together in Las Vegas. Marie, 53, hosts a TV talk show on the Hallmark Channel, and Donny, 55, has starred in Broadway productions and continues to record and appear on television. Alan, the eldest performing Osmond at 63, developed multiple sclerosis and retired as the group’s leader and taskmaster in 1996. Wayne, 61, the group’s guitarist and source of comic relief, recovered from a 1997 brain tumor but suffered a major stroke in 2012. “We miss them onstage. But the steps are still the steps, and the songs are still the songs.

We try to honor the standard that they set,” says Merrill, who continues to record and tour with Jay and Jimmy and together last year released a new album, “I Can’t Get There Without You.” For lifelong fans such as Gina Focosi, 55, of Chicago, who was 4 when she began watching the Osmonds on “The Andy Williams Show,” the standard is more about family than about song and dance. “I think I was drawn to them because they looked like they actually liked each other,” Focosi said at an Osmond concert last fall in Branson. “As they’ve grown up, I’ve grown up with them. I’m grateful to be part of their extended family.” Wayne « The Osmonds: America's Favorite Family of Entertainment… Entertaining the world for over 50 years… You are here: Home » About Us » Wayne Wayne Osmond Melvin Wayne Osmond (born August 28, 1951) is the second oldest of the original Osmond Brothers singers and the fourth oldest of the nine Osmond children. He has been performing since he was six years old and made his national television debut on the Andy Williams Show with brothers, Alan, Merrill, and Jay.

They appeared on the Andy Williams Show for seven years. Mostly a guitarist and singer, Wayne also can play the flute, clarinet, saxophone, violin, banjo, piano, drums, and bagpipe. Wayne Osmond with brothers Merrill and Alan wrote many of the Osmonds’ hit songs in the 1970s. In 1974, Wayne married Kathlyn White. Kathlyn is from Bountiful, Utah and is a former Miss Davis County Fair (Davis County, Utah) and Miss Utah of 1974. Wayne and Kathlyn have five children, three girls and two boys. Their oldest daughter, Amy Osmond, was America’s Junior Miss for 1994 and has also released a CD of Christmas music, playing the violin. Amy is married to Jeff Cook and together she and Jeff have two daughters named Elizabeth and Jennifer Cook. Amy also has two children from a previous marriage named Jacob and Maia Bingham. Wayne’s son Steven is married to Anneli Peterson and they have four children together named Aili, Paul, Elyssa and William Osmond.

Son Gregory is married to Kaylynn McConkie and they have one son named Oscar, and one daughter named Adelaide Elizabeth Osmond. His daughter Sarah is married to Adam Hilton and they have one son named Noah Hilton. Adam is currently obtaining his Master’s Degree at Northwestern University in Integrated Marketing Communications. In the 1990s, Wayne moved to Branson, Missouri, where he performs with his brothers at the Osmond Family Theater, Country Tonight, Moon River Theater, and Branson Variety Theater. He also tours with his siblings. Although the Osmond lineup changes from time to time, Wayne continues full-time. In 1997, Wayne was diagnosed with a brain tumor which was successfully treated. He remains an avid aviation enthusiast. The Osmonds Bio | The Osmonds Career | MTV Get the MTV ArtistsApp and discover music wherever you are. About The Osmonds Pop Following the breakout success of the Jackson 5 in 1970, it was practically inevitable that a pre-existing quintet of brothers, who had already enjoyed almost a decade in the national spotlight, would follow them to teen idol superstardom.

With dynamic youngest brother Donny as a focal point (much like Michael was for the Jacksons), the Osmonds did exactly that, enjoying a run of massive popularity during 1971-1972. While their success as a unit began to wane and had flickered out by the end of 1974, the Osmonds spun off a long-lasting show business career for Donny (as well as sister Marie), and the other members of the group even enjoyed a successful comeback as country artists. Born to George and Olive Osmond of Ogden, UT, brothers Alan (born June 22, 1949), Wayne (born August 28, 1951), Merrill (born April 30, 1953), and Jay (born March 2, 1955) began singing together in 1959, honing their performance skills at family entertainment venues such as county fairs and amusement parks. At this point, the brothers chiefly sang barbershop harmony, mixing some gospel tunes into their repertoire as well.

In 1962, George took the boys to Los Angeles, hoping to secure an audition for The Lawrence Welk Show; after Welk refused to see the group, their father eased the disappointment with a trip to Disneyland, where the brothers gave an impromptu concert with another barbershop quartet employed by the park. The Osmonds were signed on as regular nighttime performers, and luck smiled on them just a few weeks later when the father of popular singer -- and newly minted variety show host -- Andy Williams caught their act and recommended them to his son. Five days before Christmas in 1962, the Osmonds made their national television debut on The Andy Williams Show, on which they would continue to appear regularly until its cancellation in 1967. About a year after that initial appearance, younger brother Donny (born December 9, 1957) officially joined the group as well, and the Osmonds soon began to broaden their musical range with clean-cut pop songs. Following the demise of the Williams series, the Osmonds moved on to The Jerry Lewis Show, where they stayed until 1969.

In 1970, the commercial explosion of family bubblegum groups such as the real-life Jackson 5 and the fictional Partridge Family made the Osmonds obvious candidates for pop stardom. MGM president Mike Curb signed the Osmonds and sent them to work with Muscle Shoals studio owner and famed R&B producer Rick Hall. Hall's staff songwriter George Jackson had penned a sure-fire hit titled "One Bad Apple (Don't Spoil the Whole Bunch)," which appeared on the group's debut album, Osmonds. Released as a single at the very beginning of 1971, "One Bad Apple" shot up the charts and landed in the top spot for five weeks, finally establishing the Osmonds as recording stars after nearly a decade in the public eye.

A steady stream of hits continued unabated through 1972, including "Double Lovin'," the Top Five hits "Yo-Yo" and "Down by the Lazy River," "Hold Her Tight," and "Crazy Horses." Their albums sold well too; Osmonds went gold, as did its four followers: 1971's Homemade and the 1972 triumvirate of Phase-III, The Osmonds Live, and Crazy Horses. What's more, Donny's concurrent solo career was in full swing as well, with "Go Away Little Girl" topping the singles charts in 1971. The Osmonds' momentum was slowed a bit in 1973 with The Plan, a concept album about their Mormon faith that failed to connect with the record-buying public to the same degree (although it was surprisingly popular in the U.K.).

Younger sister Marie Osmond began making public appearances with the group later that year at the age of 13 (although she was never an official member) and scored a solo hit with "Paper Roses." In the end, changing tastes and an excess of spinoff projects proved to be too much for the original Osmonds to last as a group; 1974's "Love Me for a Reason" was the quintet's last Top Ten single, by which point Donny and Marie had established their own separate careers (although they often recorded as a duet act over the next few years). The group didn't officially disband until 1980, but as a unit they had long since ceased to be a commercial force in pop music. Donny made a brief comeback in the late '80s as a contemporary dance-pop singer and Broadway performer, as well as reuniting with his sister in the late '90s for a daytime talk show, Donny & Marie. Marie had a few hits on the country charts in the '90s and was featured on one season of the ABC television show Dancing With the Stars in 2007.

Beginning in the early '80s, the four eldest members of the Osmonds -- Alan, Merrill, Wayne, and Jay -- performed together as a country act under the name the Osmond Brothers and achieved respectable commercial success. In 1996, Alan retired from performing, and Jimmy Osmond took his place. They continued to release albums available through their website and The Osmond Family Theatre in Branson, MO. A new album of sorts, Live in Las Vegas 50th Anniversary Reunion Concert, was released in 2008. ~ Steve Huey & Al Campbell, Rovi The Osmonds | Biography & History | AllMusic google+ Artist Biography by Steve Huey Following the breakout success of the Jackson 5 in 1970, it was practically inevitable that a pre-existing quintet of brothers, who had already enjoyed almost a decade in the national spotlight, would follow them to teen idol superstardom. With dynamic youngest brother Donny as a focal point (much like Michael was for the Jacksons ), the Osmonds did exactly that, enjoying a run of massive popularity during 1971-1972.

While their success as a unit began to wane and had flickered out by the end of 1974, the Osmonds spun off a long-lasting show business career for Donny (as well as sister Marie ), and the other members of the group even enjoyed a successful comeback as country artists. Born to George and Olive Osmond of Ogden, UT, brothers Alan (born June 22, 1949), Wayne (born August 28, 1951), Merrill (born April 30, 1953), and Jay (born March 2, 1955) began singing together in 1959, honing their performance skills at family entertainment venues such as county fairs and amusement parks. At this point, the brothers chiefly sang barbershop harmony, mixing some gospel tunes into their repertoire as well. In 1962, George took the boys to Los Angeles, hoping to secure an audition for The Lawrence Welk Show; after Welk refused to see the group, their father eased the disappointment with a trip to Disneyland, where the brothers gave an impromptu concert with another barbershop quartet employed by the park.

The Osmonds were signed on as regular nighttime performers, and luck smiled on them just a few weeks later when the father of popular singer -- and newly minted variety show host -- Andy Williams caught their act and recommended them to his son. Five days before Christmas in 1962, the Osmonds made their national television debut on The Andy Williams Show, on which they would continue to appear regularly until its cancellation in 1967. About a year after that initial appearance, younger brother Donny (born December 9, 1957) officially joined the group as well, and the Osmonds soon began to broaden their musical range with clean-cut pop songs. Following the demise of the Williams series, the Osmonds moved on to The Jerry Lewis Show, where they stayed until 1969. In 1970, the commercial explosion of family bubblegum groups such as the real-life Jackson 5 and the fictional Partridge Family made the Osmonds obvious candidates for pop stardom. MGM president Mike Curb signed the Osmonds and sent them to work with Muscle Shoals studio owner and famed R&B producer Rick Hall .

Hall 's staff songwriter George Jackson had penned a sure-fire hit titled "One Bad Apple (Don't Spoil the Whole Bunch)," which appeared on the group's debut album, Osmonds . Released as a single at the very beginning of 1971, "One Bad Apple" shot up the charts and landed in the top spot for five weeks, finally establishing the Osmonds as recording stars after nearly a decade in the public eye. A steady stream of hits continued unabated through 1972, including "Double Lovin'," the Top Five hits "Yo-Yo" and "Down by the Lazy River," "Hold Her Tight," and "Crazy Horses." Their albums sold well too; Osmonds went gold, as did its four followers: 1971's Homemade and the 1972 triumvirate of Phase-III , The Osmonds Live , and Crazy Horses . What's more, Donny 's concurrent solo career was in full swing as well, with "Go Away Little Girl" topping the singles charts in 1971.

The Osmonds' momentum was slowed a bit in 1973 with The Plan , a concept album about their Mormon faith that failed to connect with the record-buying public to the same degree (although it was surprisingly popular in the U.K.). Younger sister Marie Osmond began making public appearances with the group later that year at the age of 13 (although she was never an official member) and scored a solo hit with "Paper Roses." In the end, changing tastes and an excess of spinoff projects proved to be too much for the original Osmonds to last as a group; 1974's "Love Me for a Reason" was the quintet's last Top Ten single, by which point Donny and Marie had established their own separate careers (although they often recorded as a duet act over the next few years). The group didn't officially disband until 1980, but as a unit they had long since ceased to be a commercial force in pop music. Donny made a brief comeback in the late '80s as a contemporary dance-pop singer and Broadway performer, as well as reuniting with his sister in the late '90s for a daytime talk show, Donny & Marie.

Marie had a few hits on the country charts in the '90s and was featured on one season of the ABC television show Dancing With the Stars in 2007. Beginning in the early '80s, the four eldest members of the Osmonds -- Alan , Merrill , Wayne , and Jay -- performed together as a country act under the name the Osmond Brothers and achieved respectable commercial success. In 1996, Alan retired from performing, and Jimmy Osmond took his place. They continued to release albums available through their website and The Osmond Family Theatre in Branson, MO. A new album of sorts, Live in Las Vegas 50th Anniversary Reunion Concert , was released in 2008. The Osmond brothers are back on tour - or what's left of them anyway | Music | Entertainment | Daily Express MUSIC The Osmond brothers are back on tour - or what's left of them anyway Older, wiser and weathered by decades in showbiz, three of the Osmond brothers are back on tour. If you're hoping for a glimpse of Donny, you may be disappointed...

By Adrian Lee 06:16, Fri, Oct 18, 2013 At the height of their fame in 1973, Merrill, Wayne, Jay, Jimmy and Alan, Donny is not shown [REX] [] We've had ego problems and there are peaks and valleys in everyone's career but somehow we've got through it Jimmy Osmond BACK in their heyday, posters of the Osmond brothers adorned the bedroom walls of a million young girls. Screaming fans besieged airports everywhere they performed and they sold records by the million. The world hadn't really seen anything like it since the days of The Beatles. But looking back on those crazy times in the early Seventies the youngest of the six performing brothers from Salt Lake City, Utah, has a confession to make. "In those days we were untouchable and were becoming jerks," says Jimmy Osmond, now 50. "You can be the nicest person on earth but if you are looking at yourself in the mirror too much every day you have a distorted view of reality.

That's what happened to us." It took financial disaster, not to mention a few family feuds as fame overtook them, to force the brothers to take a step back and re-evaluate. The result is that the Osmonds, in a scaled-down form, are still going strong. These days the band, reduced by illness, consists of just Jimmy, Merrill, 60, and Jay, 57. Next year the trio will be back in the UK for a tour, appearing alongside veterans the Bay City Rollers, Showaddywaddy and David Essex. Jimmy, who remains the youngest performer to have a UK No1 hit (he was nine) with Long Haired Lover From Liverpool, adds: "We go on performing because we love it. "If you really enjoy what you do, you just hit the stage and every venue you play whether it's an arena or a cruise ship it is a different experience and a different challenge. "We were trained in the old-school way when you had to fight to stay in the spotlight and I don't want to quit.

It's a real honour to look out there and see everyone from our fans from the Seventies to their children experiencing our music for the first time." In one form or another the group has been performing for more than 50 years. Donny and Marie Osmond still appear regularly as a duo in Las Vegas but Alan, 64, who has multiple sclerosis, and Wayne, 62, who suffered a stroke, have called it a day. It's a remarkable achievement for a group that has never really been considered cool but has still sold 102 million records worldwide. Donny and Marie Osmond still appear regularly in Las Vegas [GETTY] Yet it has not been an easy ride. The Osmonds have been beset by squabbles and jealousies, such as when Donny replaced Merrill as the front man, which might have destroyed other families. There was also a series of calamitous business ventures by their father which saw the family fortune eroded. That coincided with a slump in their careers in the Eighties after the hits dried up. Jimmy, now a father of four, says: "We've had ego problems and there are peaks and valleys in everyone's career but somehow we've got through it.

"I don't think there's anything in this business that's easy. We've all had those days when you want to be the only guy but the truth is we have a great team spirit." However he admits he is still haunted by the amount of money that has slipped through the family's hands. It has been reported that £40million was lost. "To be honest it freaks me out. We were pretty naive and very trusting. When you are focused on the artistic side sometimes the business side falls. In a way, though, it was the best thing that happened. "When we lost a lot of our wealth it really made us appreciate the value of money and the importance of family. Tell me anyone who has not had trouble in life." At one stage the Osmonds, who are now on a secure financial footing, were reduced to performing in school gyms to make ends meet. For that reason Jimmy sympathises with another Seventies heartthrob David Cassidy who has battled against alcohol addiction. Jimmy adds: "I understand it. I have yet to meet an entertainer that isn't a little insecure.

I feel for him." He also believes that he and his brothers, who began performing at Disneyland and became regulars on the Andy Williams Show in the Sixties, were exploited. "We were very young so it was inevitable," he says. "The train was leaving the station and you either got on or got off. I guess I didn't have much choice but it was fun. I aspired to be one of the brothers and to have my own successes here and there was really the frosting on the cake." The Osmonds have been accused of producing saccharine pop from behind shiny teeth, such as Puppy Love and Love Me For A Reason. But the band was also responsible for edgier hits including Crazy Horses - which is about pollution caused by cars. The Osmond family pictured in 1975 at the height of their careers [GETTY] The track was mistaken for a song about drugs and was banned in South Africa, much to the amusement of the clean-living brothers who are all Mormons. The extended family is growing all the time. Merrill has six children and 12 grandchildren while at a recent family get-together almost 200 Osmonds showed up.

They come from all walks of life but there's no sign yet of the next generations forming a band. So what do younger members of the family make of the three brothers still belting out the old hits in addition to new material? "The reaction is mixed," says Jimmy, who spends much of his time living in England and appeared on I'm a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! in 2005. "Some of the kids in the family are embarrassed but others are proud. I asked my son Zachary, who is turning 16 and looks just like I used to, if it bugs him but he says it makes him happy. But some of my brothers' kids hardly use their last name so being an Osmond can be a curse or a blessing." Merrill admits that it was "a tough time" personally when Donny replaced him as the lead singer. Their father George, who pulled the strings, is said to have told Merrill bluntly that he was being sacked. The siblings were worked relentlessly by their ambitious father, a former army sergeant, who often insisted they perform three shows a day. Mistakes and bad behaviour were punished by beatings.

Merrill says: "We've been through our ups and downs but it's a brotherhood. We're on the road, we write songs and the fan base continues to grow. "We see our fans bring their children to our concerts and that drives me because I think maybe we still have something to give. "During the Seventies we lived in a bubble. We went through life not really touched by the outside world. At one stage I wanted to be a doctor but when I look back I'm grateful we stayed together." Recently Merrill has struggled against diabetes and heart disease. He contemplated retiring but adds: "Not now. I feel fine and my health is in good shape. To have been through some of the disasters we've had I'm most proud that I can look back and say the family is still together." "It's a sentiment shared by Jay, who has three sons and a grandchild. Unlike many of their peers no one has ever read stories about the Osmonds trashing hotel rooms or going into rehab and he says: "It's a combination of our family and religion that has kept us stable. "There was a time when I was 18 years old and wondered what the other side was like.

I just wanted to be a normal kid going through high school. "The worst part of being an Osmond in the Seventies was all the guys poking fun at us because all our fans back then were girls. But I don't really have any regrets." Jay is also keen to set the record straight on the Osmonds' songs, adding: "I do think a lot of people focused unfairly on the early bubblegum pop, which was meant to appeal to young girls, and didn't look at the quality of some of the later material. We wrote the music ourselves and played all the instruments." Now with yet another tour on the horizon Jay says they are all having far too much fun to think of bringing the curtain down on their careers. Related articles The Osmonds | New Music And Songs | The Osmonds About The Osmonds Following the breakout success of the Jackson 5 in 1970, it was practically inevitable that a pre-existing quintet of brothers, who had already enjoyed almost a decade in the national spotlight, would follow them to teen idol superstardom.

With dynamic youngest brother Donny as a focal point (much like Michael was for the Jacksons), the Osmonds did exactly that, enjoying a run of massive popularity during 1971-1972. While their success as a unit began to wane and had flickered out by the end of 1974, the Osmonds spun off a long-lasting show business career for Donny (as well as sister Marie), and the other members of the group even enjoyed a successful comeback as country artists. Born to George and Olive Osmond of Ogden, UT, brothers Alan (born June 22, 1949), Wayne (born August 28, 1951), Merrill (born April 30, 1953), and Jay (born March 2, 1955) began singing together in 1959, honing their performance skills at family entertainment venues such as county fairs and amusement parks. At this point, the brothers chiefly sang barbershop harmony, mixing some gospel tunes into their repertoire as well.

In 1962, George took the boys to Los Angeles, hoping to secure an audition for The Lawrence Welk Show; after Welk refused to see the group, their father eased the disappointment with a trip to Disneyland, where the brothers gave an impromptu concert with another barbershop quartet employed by the park. The Osmonds were signed on as regular nighttime performers, and luck smiled on them just a few weeks later when the father of popular singer -- and newly minted variety show host -- Andy Williams caught their act and recommended them to his son. Five days before Christmas in 1962, the Osmonds made their national television debut on The Andy Williams Show, on which they would continue to appear regularly until its cancellation in 1967. About a year after that initial appearance, younger brother Donny (born December 9, 1957) officially joined the group as well, and the Osmonds soon began to broaden their musical range with clean-cut pop songs. Following the demise of the Williams series, the Osmonds moved on to The Jerry Lewis Show, where they stayed until 1969.

In 1970, the commercial explosion of family bubblegum groups such as the real-life Jackson 5 and the fictional Partridge Family made the Osmonds obvious candidates for pop stardom. MGM president Mike Curb signed the Osmonds and sent them to work with Muscle Shoals studio owner and famed R&B producer Rick Hall. Hall's staff songwriter George Jackson had penned a sure-fire hit titled "One Bad Apple (Don't Spoil the Whole Bunch)," which appeared on the group's debut album, Osmonds. Released as a single at the very beginning of 1971, "One Bad Apple" shot up the charts and landed in the top spot for five weeks, finally establishing the Osmonds as recording stars after nearly a decade in the public eye.

A steady stream of hits continued unabated through 1972, including "Double Lovin'," the Top Five hits "Yo-Yo" and "Down by the Lazy River," "Hold Her Tight," and "Crazy Horses." Their albums sold well too; Osmonds went gold, as did its four followers: 1971's Homemade and the 1972 triumvirate of Phase-III, The Osmonds Live, and Crazy Horses. What's more, Donny's concurrent solo career was in full swing as well, with "Go Away Little Girl" topping the singles charts in 1971. The Osmonds' momentum was slowed a bit in 1973 with The Plan, a concept album about their Mormon faith that failed to connect with the record-buying public to the same degree (although it was surprisingly popular in the U.K.).

Younger sister Marie Osmond began making public appearances with the group later that year at the age of 13 (although she was never an official member) and scored a solo hit with "Paper Roses." In the end, changing tastes and an excess of spinoff projects proved to be too much for the original Osmonds to last as a group; 1974's "Love Me for a Reason" was the quintet's last Top Ten single, by which point Donny and Marie had established their own separate careers (although they often recorded as a duet act over the next few years). The group didn't officially disband until 1980, but as a unit they had long since ceased to be a commercial force in pop music. Donny made a brief comeback in the late '80s as a contemporary dance-pop singer and Broadway performer, as well as reuniting with his sister in the late '90s for a daytime talk show, Donny & Marie. Marie had a few hits on the country charts in the '90s and was featured on one season of the ABC television show Dancing With the Stars in 2007.

Beginning in the early '80s, the four eldest members of the Osmonds -- Alan, Merrill, Wayne, and Jay -- performed together as a country act under the name the Osmond Brothers and achieved respectable commercial success. In 1996, Alan retired from performing, and Jimmy Osmond took his place. They continued to release albums available through their website and The Osmond Family Theatre in Branson, MO. A new album of sorts, Live in Las Vegas 50th Anniversary Reunion Concert, was released in 2008. ~ Steve Huey & Al Campbell, Rovi Hear more of The Osmond Brothers | Biography & History | AllMusic The Osmond Brothers Biography by Steve Huey Following the breakout success of the Jackson 5 in 1970, it was practically inevitable that a pre-existing quintet of brothers, who had already enjoyed almost a decade in the national spotlight, would… google+ Artist Biography by Steve Huey Following the breakout success of the Jackson 5 in 1970, it was practically inevitable that a pre-existing quintet of brothers, who had already enjoyed almost a decade in the national spotlight, would follow them to teen idol superstardom.

With dynamic youngest brother Donny as a focal point (much like Michael was for the Jacksons ), the Osmonds did exactly that, enjoying a run of massive popularity during 1971-1972. While their success as a unit began to wane and had flickered out by the end of 1974, the Osmonds spun off a long-lasting show business career for Donny (as well as sister Marie ), and the other members of the group even enjoyed a successful comeback as country artists. Born to George and Olive Osmond of Ogden, UT, brothers Alan (born June 22, 1949), Wayne (born August 28, 1951), Merrill (born April 30, 1953), and Jay (born March 2, 1955) began singing together in 1959, honing their performance skills at family entertainment venues such as county fairs and amusement parks. At this point, the brothers chiefly sang barbershop harmony, mixing some gospel tunes into their repertoire as well.

In 1962, George took the boys to Los Angeles, hoping to secure an audition for The Lawrence Welk Show; after Welk refused to see the group, their father eased the disappointment with a trip to Disneyland, where the brothers gave an impromptu concert with another barbershop quartet employed by the park. The Osmonds were signed on as regular nighttime performers, and luck smiled on them just a few weeks later when the father of popular singer -- and newly minted variety show host -- Andy Williams caught their act and recommended them to his son. Five days before Christmas in 1962, the Osmonds made their national television debut on The Andy Williams Show, on which they would continue to appear regularly until its cancellation in 1967. About a year after that initial appearance, younger brother Donny (born December 9, 1957) officially joined the group as well, and the Osmonds soon began to broaden their musical range with clean-cut pop songs. Following the demise of the Williams series, the Osmonds moved on to The Jerry Lewis Show, where they stayed until 1969.

In 1970, the commercial explosion of family bubblegum groups such as the real-life Jackson 5 and the fictional Partridge Family made the Osmonds obvious candidates for pop stardom. MGM president Mike Curb signed the Osmonds and sent them to work with Muscle Shoals studio owner and famed R&B producer Rick Hall . Hall 's staff songwriter George Jackson had penned a sure-fire hit titled "One Bad Apple (Don't Spoil the Whole Bunch)," which appeared on the group's debut album, Osmonds . Released as a single at the very beginning of 1971, "One Bad Apple" shot up the charts and landed in the top spot for five weeks, finally establishing the Osmonds as recording stars after nearly a decade in the public eye.

A steady stream of hits continued unabated through 1972, including "Double Lovin'," the Top Five hits "Yo-Yo" and "Down by the Lazy River," "Hold Her Tight," and "Crazy Horses." Their albums sold well too; Osmonds went gold, as did its four followers: 1971's Homemade and the 1972 triumvirate of Phase-III , The Osmonds Live , and Crazy Horses . What's more, Donny 's concurrent solo career was in full swing as well, with "Go Away Little Girl" topping the singles charts in 1971. The Osmonds' momentum was slowed a bit in 1973 with The Plan , a concept album about their Mormon faith that failed to connect with the record-buying public to the same degree (although it was surprisingly popular in the U.K.).

Younger sister Marie Osmond began making public appearances with the group later that year at the age of 13 (although she was never an official member) and scored a solo hit with "Paper Roses." In the end, changing tastes and an excess of spinoff projects proved to be too much for the original Osmonds to last as a group; 1974's "Love Me for a Reason" was the quintet's last Top Ten single, by which point Donny and Marie had established their own separate careers (although they often recorded as a duet act over the next few years). The group didn't officially disband until 1980, but as a unit they had long since ceased to be a commercial force in pop music. Donny made a brief comeback in the late '80s as a contemporary dance-pop singer and Broadway performer, as well as reuniting with his sister in the late '90s for a daytime talk show, Donny & Marie. Marie had a few hits on the country charts in the '90s and was featured on one season of the ABC television show Dancing With the Stars in 2007.

Beginning in the early '80s, the four eldest members of the Osmonds -- Alan , Merrill , Wayne , and Jay -- performed together as a country act under the name the Osmond Brothers and achieved respectable commercial success. In 1996, Alan retired from performing, and Jimmy Osmond took his place. They continued to release albums available through their website and The Osmond Family Theatre in Branson, MO. Behind the Teeth: Know Your Osmond | Confessions of a Pop Culture Addict Behind the Teeth: Know Your Osmond Utah's first family of pop, The Osmonds! “You know, I always forget that there are more Osmonds than just Donny and Marie,” Jarred said to me as he watched in half horror/half humor at a vintage video clip of Cher and the Osmond Brothers singing a Stevie Wonder medley. Now Jarred isn’t culturally unaware. Oh no. Far from it. In fact, he’s often one of the only people I know who can keep up to me on topics of Pop Culture. However, it came to me that in the current century the influence of the once legendary Osmond family seems to be waning.

In fact, the individual who had posted the video clip on the internet said it was of Cher, Donny Osmond and others. Others? It’s a disgusting turn of events when the Osmond Brothers are thrown to the side as simply “others”. I mean, a mere thirty years ago they were giants in the music industry. Thus, I decided that it was up to me, as a part of my duty of preserving the Pop Culture of yesteryear, to reacquaint you with the funkiest family of Mormons ever to come out of Utah. My goal is that once I’m done you’ll not only know the names of each and every Osmond, but you’ll be able to impress your friends with knowing a bit about each one of them. It’s time to realize that the Osmonds are far more than just Donny and Marie.

So hold on to your teeth folks as CONFESSIONS OF A POP CULTURE ADDICT PRESENTS BEHIND THE TEETH: KNOW YOUR OSMOND Alan, Wayne, Merrill and Jay make an early TV appearance with Andy Williams The story of the Osmond family began in 1962 when Olive and George Osmond and four of their young sons; Wayne, Jay, Merrill and Alan, left their Utah home for California. Their goal was to meet famed television music host Lawrence Welk. For the last number of years Wayne, Jay, Merrill and Alan had been performing as a barbershop quartet. However, when Welk didn’t want to take the time to see four cute little boys sing barbershop (now if they had been teenaged girls that may have been another story) the Osmonds set their sights on Disneyland. However, unlike most family trips to the famous theme park, the Osmonds had much bigger ambitions than to meet Mickey Mouse. The Osmonds auditioned for Disneyland’s talent scout Tommy Walker who decided that Lawrence Welk’s loss would be Disneyland’s gain. He hired the boys to perform at Disneyland for the entire summer.

It was at this summertime engagement that the Osmonds were spotted by Jay Williams, father of popular crooner Andy Williams. It just so happened that Andy was starting a brand new music show on NBC and Jay Williams encouraged the Osmonds to audition, as well as told his son about the boys’ act. Andy realized when he saw the boys perform that he had hit gold. The Osmonds became regulars on Andy Williams’ show, as well, they toured the country with Andy for the next two years. The Osmonds’ partnership with Andy Williams lasted the rest of the decade. The Osmonds also became regular cast members on a short lived western series “The Travels of Jaimie McPheeters”. Donny and Jimmy join their brothers on "The Andy Williams Show" In 1964, the Osmonds introduced a fifth member who, even at the young age of 6, was destined to become the most famous Osmond of all time. This was, of course, Donny Osmond. The turning point for the Osmond act was in 1969 when they ended their partnership with Andy Williams and decided that it was time to leave the world of easy listening behind.

Now all in their teens, the Osmonds had grown up to be a rather good looking group of guys. With the charts being dominated with pop musicians like David Cassidy and Bobby Sherman the Osmonds knew that barbershop wasn’t gonna cut it anymore. In 1971 the Osmonds got hold of the catchy pop single “One Bad Apple,” originally written for the Jackson Five, and within weeks the record rose to the top of the charts. Osmondmania was born and for the next decade, and well into the next century, the name Osmond would be a synonymous with entertainment. Anyways, enough of the history lesson. Let’s get reacquainted with the children of George and Olive Osmond: Alan “Big Al” Osmond - Although Alan wasn’t the oldest of Olive and George’s nine children, at age eight Alan was the oldest of the children that went into show business. As a result, he was given the responsibility in the early days to keep his younger brothers in order and organizing them to rehearse and stay focused. Of course, this was often hard to do at their young ages. As a result Alan became the unofficial leader of the Osmond Brothers.

Alan was responsible for writing a number of the Osmonds’ songs, but his biggest contribution was the hit song “Down By the Lazy River”. During his time with the Osmonds Alan dated tragic pop star Karen Carpenter, but married Suzanne Pinegar in 1974. When the Osmond Brothers fell apart due to the popularity of Donny’s solo career in the mid 1970′s Alan branched out from music into television production. Alan was the producer of a number of television variety shows, mainly in the country music field, including Donna Fargo and Roy Clark. It should be of no surprise that Alan became the executive producer of Donny and Marie’s popular variety show of the late 1970′s. In the 1980′s Alan reformed the Osmond Brothers as a country band and received a number of rewards. At this time he and Suzanne began to manage their eight sons as a pop band called 2ndG. Alan also started his own firework company called “Alan Osmond’s Stadium of Fire” which was responsible for the fireworks display at both the Ronald Reagan and George Bush Sr. presidential inaugurations.

However, at the beginning of the 1990′s Alan had to leave show business due to a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis. However, MS hasn’t slowed Alan down and now he and Suzanne travel the country as motivational speakers about living with MS and family values. Alan also spends his time as the webmaster for the Osmonds’ official website . Wayne “Crazy Wayne” Osmond - Of all the stages of the Osmond Brothers band Wayne Osmond is the only brother who has been in every incarnation. Of all the Osmonds, Wayne is the most musically talented by mastering nine instruments including the flute, banjo, guitar, clarinet, drums, saxophone, violin, piano and bagpipes. Wayne Osmond has the reputation of being the Osmonds’ wise guy and stage comedian, often interrupting the concerts to tell the audience anecdotes and jokes at the expense of his brothers. It’s Wayne’s voice that provides the low bass that is key to the Osmonds’ unique sound . In the late 1970′s, when Alan was producing all those variety shows, it was Wayne who provided the announcer voice overs. In 1974 Wayne married Kathlyn White, a former Ms.

Utah (where else?) and together they raised five children. In the 1980′s Wayne joined his brothers as part of the country band. Wayne can also be seen in the 1989 family holiday film “It Nearly Wasn’t Christmas”. In 1997 Wayne was diagnosed with a brain tumor but had it removed successfully. Wayne is also an avid pilot, receiving his pilot’s license two years before he even learned how to drive a car. Wayne has also taught aviation classes to beginners. These days Wayne can be seen twice daily performing at Jimmy’s “Osmond Family Theater” with his brothers, and he also tours the country as a motivational speaker on the subject of surviving cancer. Merrill “The Bear” Osmond - The dynamic raspy lead vocals in early Osmond recordings, such as “One Bad Apple”, “Down By the Lazy River”, “Crazy Horses”, and “That’s My Girl” that are obviously not Donny, belong to Merrill Osmond, the Osmond Brothers’ original lead singer.

Merrill’s vocals were so powerful that one almost has to wonder why it was Donny and not him, who became the “key” Osmond, but as the public screamed for more and more of Donny, Merrill faded into the background. To this Pop Culture Addict, Donny’s replacement of Merrill is a serious disappointment. However, after Donny left the band to pursue a solo career, Merrill continued in show business as a television script writer and produced over 90 scripts and teleplays for television. Merrill was also Alan’s right-hand man as co-producer of the “Donny and Marie Variety Hour” and also produced the television productions of Ronald Reagan and George Bush Sr.’s inaugural balls. Throughout the 1980′s Merrill became very prolific as a key supporter of the Utah Special Olympics. Although he may have been pushed out of the limelight by Donny, and although there was talk not long ago of retiring from show business, Merrill is still performing today, not only with his brothers at Jimmy’s “Osmond Family Theater” in Branson, but also as part of his own solo project “The Black Bear Band”.

Merrill also has a brand new CD out called “Merrill Osmond Sings Broadway” which has been turned into a solo show which will be running from March 26th to October 27th 2006 at the Branson Variety Theater. If you’re in Branson this summer make sure not to miss this dynamic singer, not to mention my favourite of all the Osmonds. Jay Osmond - Jay started his career with the Osmonds at the age of two as the toothless, youngest Osmond. It was at the age of eight that Jay picked up his first set of drumsticks and from that day forward acted as the Osmond’s drummer. When the Osmond Brothers act began to die down after Donny’s solo career sparked, Jay also participated on the Donny and Marie Variety Hour as the show’s musical director and dance choreographer. In the 1980′s Jay tried his hand at producing, working on Marie’s short lived solo variety show as well as the first Osmond Family TV movie “Side by Side”.

Jay was also a member of the 1980′s country version of the Osmond Brothers but he left the band in 1985 to pursue a university degree. In 1987 Jay married Kandilyn Harris, who he met at university, and they raised five children. Jay’s wife admits that when she met Jay she also didn’t know there were so many Osmonds. When Jimmy opened the “Osmond Family Theater” in Branson, Jay was amongst the brothers who performed two shows, six days a week at the Theater, but, once again, quit the act in 2004 to return to Utah to finish his university degree and overlook his father’s real estate business “Osmond Real Estate”, which, these days, is being run by Jimmy. However, Jay still tours with his brothers on occasion and can often be seen on the Branson stage. Donny “Corky” Osmond - Donny Osmond is, without a doubt, the most famous of all the Osmond Brothers, not to mention one of the most famous teen idols in pop culture history.

Perhaps he was the right age or maybe just had the right amount of charisma but during the 1970′s phenomenon “Osmondmania”, Donny became, head and shoulders above his brothers in popularity. Eventually splitting with his brothers’ band, he went solo when the pre-teen record buying public demanded more Donny. Donny’s solo hits, such as “Puppy Love”, “Too Young” and “Go Away Little Girl,” amongst a dozen others, became even more popular than those of the Osmond Brothers. As a result, the Osmond Brothers band came to an end. However, during the height of his popularity, a nearly career-ending twist happened in the recording studio in 1974 when Donny’s voice began to change. The story goes that Donny could no longer hit some of the notes he was required to sing so the producer sent his younger sister Marie, herself established as a country singer, into the studio with him. Lightening struck twice that day and the duo of Donny and Marie was born. Donny and Marie went on to record a number of hit records together.

It was on an appearance co-hosting The Mike Douglas Show that Sid and Marty Kroft saw the duo and thought to themselves that they would be perfect at hosting their new variety show. Donny and Marie agreed to do it under one condition – that their brothers all had jobs with the production of it. The Donny and Marie Variety Hour was a huge ratings success and ran four years, increasing the Osmonds’ popularity for the rest of the decade and spinning off hundreds of merchandising products. During this time, much to the heartbreak of his legion of fans, Donny met and married Debra Glenn and they raised five children. However, all teen idols come to a point when their popularity fades and it’s time for the new teen idol to come up to the plate. The 1980′s were not kind to Donny who had been performing since he was six. As he approached his thirties Donny was suddenly a has-been. Donny tried hard to recreate himself many times – shunning his teen idol image and even changing his name to Don for a while. The irony was that his brothers, by this time, had successfully re-launched their careers as a successful country music act.

In 1986 Donny did have a comeback hit called “Soldier of Love” which was written and produced by Peter Gabriel. It must have seemed like the ultimate low point of his career, when at a State Fair at the end of the decade Donny was on stage and a drunken biker kept taunting him to sing “Puppy Love”. In a moment of anger Donny performed the song and was amazed when the crowd went insane! He finally realized that you can’t deny what made you famous because that’s what your fans want. From that point on Donny didn’t shun his teen idol roots anymore. In the 1990′s Donny found new success on the stage playing Joseph in “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” where he set up a long time engagement in Toronto. However, it was during this run that Donny was diagnosed with Social Anxiety Disorder and eventually had to take his leave of the production. It was also during this time that Donny made an appearance on the premier episode of the Rosie O’Donnell show and accidentally insinuated that the rotund actress was fat on the air.

Rosie was horrified and beat her Donny Osmond doll on the desk in front of him. For the next year Rosie didn’t let it go and made jabs at Donny until he showed up on the show in a dog outfit and serenaded her with “Puppy Love”. The jokes stopped, but O’Donnell and Donny did not leave as the best of friends. In 1998, after a lapse of nearly a decade working together, Donny re-teamed with Marie to co-host a daily talk show called “The Donny and Marie Show”. In the 90′s everybody from Carnie Wilson to Howie Mandell had a talk show. The difference between the onslaught of those shows and Donny and Marie’s was that theirs was actually successful. However, due to some personal problems Marie faced, the duo called it quits after two years. Donny was back in 2002 as host of the update of the popular game show “Pyramid” that ran another two years. Donny is still performing worldwide and has just released a new CD in 2005 called “What I Meant to Say”.

Donny also wrote a fascinating autobiography called “Life is Just What You Make It”. Finally, I want to encourage anyone who gets a chance to watch an interview with Donny Osmond to do so. He is a fascinating figure who “tells it like it is” about the dark side of being a teen idol. Behind that pearly smile is a guy who has seen the best and the worst of the way that show business can chew you up and spit you out and he is frank, honest and fascinating in interviews. Donny Osmond is a true survivor of the entertainment business who, after almost forty years in the spotlight, is still singing and smiling. Marie Osmond - The only daughter of George and Olive, Marie began her musical career at the age of thirteen. However, instead of following her brothers into pop music, Marie looked the other way and decided to be “a little bit country”. Then, in 1973, Marie Osmond became the youngest female performer ever to get a #1 hit on the country music charts with “Paper Roses”. From that moment on, Marie was thrown into the heart of Osmondmania.

However, she would seal her pop culture status, as well as popularity, when her brother Donny’s voice began to change. When he couldn’t hit the high notes in the studio one afternoon, the record producer sent Marie in with him to do the harmonies. The combination was golden, which led to the two teaming up as a duo. It was after co-hosting the Mike Douglas Show that Donny and Marie were offered the chance to host their own TV variety show which lasted for four years. On the “Donny and Marie Variety Hour” the world became familiar with Marie’s sense of humor, usually at the expense of Donny. One of the running gags was Marie sucker punching Donny in the stomach. Her stint on the Donny and Marie Show increased Marie to major teen idol material. Her haircut, which also was being popularized by Toni Tennille, Kiki Dee and Karen Carpenter, influenced tons of women to adopt a similar style and was called “The Marie Cut.” For a while she dated troubled pop star, and member of another popular 70′s musical family, Andy Gibb but her parents disapproved of the pairing.

She was also the original choice for Sandy in the film version of “Grease” but turned it down over what she called “moral grounds” (the part, of course, was given to Olivia Newton John). Marie continued acting in numerous television and film projects into the 1980′s, even portraying her mother in a 1982 television movie about her family called “Side By Side: The Story of the Osmond Family”. She also continued to make hits on the country music charts while her brothers suffered in musical limbo. In 1982 Marie Osmond married Steve Craig and they had a son. However, two years later Marie and Craig divorced despite the Mormon faith’s discouragement of divorce. Marie remarried in 1986 to Brian Bosil and they had another son and adopted five other children! Unfortunately, Marie and Brian filed for divorce in 2007. In the early 1990′s Marie turned her attention to Broadway, portraying Maria in “The Sound of Music” and Anna in “The King and I”. It was also in the early 1990′s that Marie launched her own series of porcelain dolls on the collector market.

The Marie Osmond Collection is still selling strong today. In 1998 Marie teamed up with her brother Donny on “Donny and Marie”, a daily talk show. Once again, her zany sense of humor was evident. During the run of the series, Marie got pregnant once again and the world watched Marie for nine months through each stage of her pregnancy. However, days after the birth of a son, Marie disappeared from home. She reappeared days later, suffering from a severe case of postpartum depression. Marie is now an advocate of mental health and when Tom Cruise recently attacked Brooke Shields for using medication to help her with her bout of postpartum depression, Marie was one of the first celebrities to jump to Brooke’s defense. The Mormon versus the Scientologist. Well… at least the Mormons are a real religion. These days Marie not only continues with the doll business, but also hosts “Marie and Friends”, a national syndicated radio show. Marie is also, along with John “Bo Duke/Jonathan Kent” Schneider, the co-founder of the Children’s Miracle Network . Jimmy “Little Jimmy” Osmond - Now I’ll be honest with you.

I’m not a big fan of Jimmy Osmond’s solo musical career. However, as Osmonds go, I can’t help but be the most impressed with Jimmy as a man with the eye for business and perseverance thus making me a HUGE Jimmy Osmond fan! Now it was natural that Jimmy Osmond would go into show business but, at the age of six, Jimmy’s records, such as “Long Haired Lover from Liverpool”, were more novelty pieces in the vein of Tiny Tim and Mrs. Miller than anything else. However, Jimmy’s music was a hit in Japan, but then, you need to question a nation in which even Alyssa Milano can be a pop star. Yet, even at an early age it was very evident that Jimmy’s real talent lay in business operations. By the time he was fifteen Jimmy was put in charge of all the Osmond marketing. This led to Jimmy forming his own advertising agency in which he represented companies like Coca Cola and Yamaha. Jimmy also took over his father’s real estate company, “Osmond Real Estate” in Utah.

In the early 1990′s Jimmy purchased a Theater and talked his brothers Alan, Wayne, Jay and Merrill to move to Branson and perform with him for two daily shows, five days a week. The Theater, dubbed “The Osmond Family Theater” has become one of the hot spots in Branson and the Osmonds’ show has won a number of awards. Jimmy bought a second Theater and put on “The American Jukebox Show”. He later sold the show to a cruse line. Jimmy’s second Theater is now home to the CMN show “Country Tonight”. In 1992 Jimmy married Michelle Larson and they started their own family and currently have four children. Jimmy, like Marie, also branched out in the toy market and created his own line of stuffed toys called Hummy Bears. In 1996 Jimmy even found time to write and illustrate a children’s book titled “If Santa Was My Daddy”. Jimmy is still in charge of the majority of the Osmonds’ marketing and runs “ The Osmond General Store “, which is an online distributor of all things Osmond.

Sure, I may not like Jimmy’s recordings, but there is no denying that in many ways Jimmy is by far the most successful of all the Osmonds with every one of his fingers in every honey pot he can get them in. Jimmy Osmond knows you don’t need to be a major celebrity to be a giant success. AND NOW FOR AN ADDED BONUS OTHER OSMONDS Not all of Olive and George’s children went into music, but that doesn’t make them any bit less interesting. The two oldest Osmond sons, Virl and Tom, are both deaf. However, despite their disability, both men have not let their handicap slow their lives down. Both Virl and Tom were the first deaf Mormon missionaries who taught their religion to other deaf people. Virl married Chris Marie Carrol in 1968 and they raised five children. He spent many years living in Utah working at his father’s real estate company, but has since moved to Branson to do PR work for his brothers and often even takes the stage to perform with them. Tom Osmond is a postal worker in Utah and has raised eight children between two marriages.

Virl and Tom are said to be the inspiration behind Marie’s “Children’s Miracle Network” as well as Deaf.net, an Osmond family organization which help family dealing with deafness. 2ndG - Alan Osmond's sons attempt to create thier own boys band 2ndG – In the late 1980′s, the Osmonds hoped that lightening may strike again for the family, when the eight sons of Alan and Suzanne Osmond decided to try their own hand at the pop industry. Dubbing themselves “The Osmonds 2nd Generation”, which eventually was shortened to 2ndG, Michael, Doug, David, Nathan, Scott, Jon, Alex and Tyler Osmond made their show business debut on a Bob Hope special in the mid 1980s. That appearance led to an album and a tour of mall appearances. Finally they got a regular gig as the opening act for the New Kids on the Block. 2ndG made had some minor success in the UK, but was unable to get any billboard successes in North America. I guess North America wasn’t ready for a boys band with more then five members.

In 1992 members of 2ndG brought their act to Branson as an opening act for their uncles at the “Osmond Family Theater”. 2ndG still perform today in different incarnations, however life has taken the boys to different directions making 2ndG more of a pick up band with whichever one of the members seems to be available for a gig. Home Of The Osmonds - The Osmond Family The Osmond Family Forums The Osmonds Auto-Biographie. The nine children of the Osmond family became a family singing sensation in the early 60s when the four eldest brothers, Merrill, Alan, Jay, and Wayne, debuted their barbershop quartet on The Andy Williams Show. Eventually the group expanded to include Donny, Marie, and Jimmy Osmond. Instantly popular, the Osmonds made regular appearances on the show, and soon their younger brothers, Donny and Jimmy, as well as their sister, Marie joined them onstage. Olive Mae Davis, the matriarch of the Osmond family, was working in Ogden, Utah, as a secretary when she met George Osmond.

A devout Mormon, Osmond had previously worked as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and served in World War II. In 1944, he and Olive married. Their first child, George Virl, Jr. was born October 19, 1945. Their son Tom came two years later, on October 26, 1947. To support the family, George, Sr. worked odd jobs, including a stint as the postmaster for the city of Ogden. Shortly after the birth of their children, the Osmonds learned that their sons were both born with the same degenerative disease, which left them nearly deaf. This came as a blow to the familyespecially George, Sr., who loved to sing. Doctors warned the parents that any other children the couple had could also inherit the disease, but the Osmonds wanted a large family. As the years passed, the family continued to grow: sons Alan, Wayne, Merrill and Jay quickly followed. None of them inherited the genetic disorder of their elder brothers. Interested in passing on his musical abilities to his children, George taught the boys to sing in barbershop harmony.

The boys, ranging in age from three to nine, had true talent and began to perform locally to earn money for their brothers' hearing aids, and in service to the Mormon church. Within a few years, the boys' talent had earned enough public acclaim that George, Sr. took the boys to audition for the Lawrence Welk show in California. Welk turned them down but, undeterred, the boys visited Disneyland and were hired to perform there full-time. While at Disneyland, the group was scouted by the father of popular variety-show host Andy Williams. The brothers began appearing on The Andy Williams Show starting in 1962. Younger brother Donny soon joined the group, followed by sister Marie and their youngest brother, Jimmy. The family performed on Andy Williams for seven seasons before opening up a recording studio in their basement, where they proceeded to produce 34 gold and platinum records. They also toured extensively throughout the United States and Europe, making stiff competition for The Jackson 5 and The Partridge Family. Although the four Osmond brothers achieved great success in their early musical career, younger siblings Donny and Marie brought the family's fame to new levels, teaming up to create one of sugar-pop's most squeaky-clean duos.

They started their careers separately, Donny performing as a solo artist and with various members of the family, and 13-year-old Marie creating chart-topping country hits such as Paper Roses and Who's Sorry Now. After the success of her first single, Marie began touring with her brothers on the nightclub circuit, most frequently with Donny.

Question: Which group had members with the christian names Jay, Merrill, Alan and Wayne?
Answer: The Osmonds